Action Fraud, a government body dedicated to investigating alleged sharp practice, yesterday confirmed it has received complaints.

The precise number of people affected by Colour My Funeral’s sudden closure is not yet known but a social media site set up by those who say they have been badly let down features numerous tales of despair.

The company offered a cortege of stretch VW Beetles, a motorcycle sidecar adapted for coffins – and a lift to the church for the deceased in a vintage lorry.

One family paid a staggering £27,000 for a farewell that included two Rolls Royce hearses and eight ‘Roller’ limos.

Caskets were equally outrageous, ranging from leopard print to football-themed. In 2014, Colour My Funeral even offered a full World Cup send-off, with a bust of then England manager Roy Hodgson or Wayne Rooney on the coffin lid.

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Those football fans who wanted to be sent to their maker by Colour My Funeral didn’t think for one minute that the seemingly thriving company’s unique role in the funeral business would be all over in three years.

It is now.

Services were also fun affairs. Colour My Funeral once famously played disco classic Burn Baby Burn as the exit music at a cremation.

A spokesman said at the time: “We provide what people want. If they want to dance around the casket and play disco music they can have it. If they want ‘traditional’ they can have it. We are trying to make it more light-hearted. We are trying to show there is more choice than a black car and drab coffin.”

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For those who have accused the firm of turning funerals into a farce, the laughter stopped this week when they spotted legal notices on both Colour My Funeral outlets.

An announcement on the Companies House website, dated October 31, states: “The Registrar of Companies gives notice that, unless cause is shown to the contrary, at the expiration of two months from the above date, the name of Colour My Funeral (Solihull) Limited will be struck off the register and the company will be dissolved.

“Upon dissolution, all properties and rights vested in, or held in trust for, the company are deemed to be bona vacantia and accordingly will belong to the crown.”

Companies House lists Adam Blake as director. Mr Blake is the fiancé of Aimee Hall, former manager of Colour My Funeral’s Solihull branch and daughter of business founder John Hall.

Complainants we spoke to stressed that they dealt directly with Aimee.

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Her family’s attempts to contact Colour My Funeral owners have failed. They have now contacted police and Action Fraud.

Furious grand-daughter Charlotte Hopwood said: “My nan is distressed and devastated. And she is not the only one.

“This was money left by grandfather specifically for the funeral. She wanted something bright and colourful to match her personality.

“She is now ashen-faced and depressed. She has been emotionally affected because the whole thing has made her question herself. She felt stupid, but so many people coming forward and offering support has lifted her spirits. It shows there are good people out there.”

Charlotte has now set up a Facebook site for others who claim to have been left in the lurch, and which has already received a number of complaints.